Universal joint



H. J. GRAHAM.

UNIVERSAL JOI NT.

l D DEC.2B- I91? Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

HERBERT J. GRAHAM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

* Patented. Sept. 9, 1919.

Application filed mama. 2a, 1917. Serial No. 209,206.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT J. GRA AM, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in. the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Universal Joints, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved universal joint between two members one of which is employed to drive the other. The special feature of the invention is a construction in which the two members .-onstituting the joint may be separated. from. each other in an intact condition, that is without altering the integrity of either of the joint members.

The invention is embodied in the example illustrated in the accompanying drawing and set forth in the following specification.

In the drawing- I igure 1 is a plan view showing the memhers alined axially.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the parts standing at angles to each other.

Fu 8 15 a simllar view showm the arts as they are positioned with relation to each,

other for separation.

Fig. 4 is a detail partly in section exposing the driving ring segment in position pre paratory to separation of the parts.

Fig. 5 shows the parts partly separated.

Fig. 6 shows the parts separated.

It will be convenient for description to treat one of the parts as the driven member and the other as the driving member. The driven member consists of a head part 7 which is made with a groove 8 on the arc of a circle greater than a half circle. This head is open at one or both sides as seen at 9 so that the shank of the other part can be swung to stand at an angle to the head part as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The driving member includes an opensegment of a ring 10 to fit circumferentially in the groove 8 when in place the segment being conveniently swiveled to the end of the shaft or shank 11 by means of bearing pin 12 to which the segment is secured by pins 13.

The horizontal diameters of the segment are such that when turned to the position shown in Fig. 4 the segment may be lifted first leftward to the position shown in Fig. 5 and then rightward, as shown in Fig. 6, to entirely remove the segment from the socket member between the terminals of the groove therein.

The advantage of this construction is that in operative position a maximum of bearing engagement between the segment ring and socket member is secured plus the advantage of separability of the members from each other without disturbing their individual intactness. The socket member can therefore be made as an integral piece.

This invention will be especially useful in motor vehicles in which instance the socket member would be conveniently embodied in the hub of the wheel while the other member would be fashioned to constitute a driving axle or shaft.

It is obvious, however, that either of the members may constitute the driving member and the other the driven member.

The forms of the parts can be changed without departing from the gist of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A universal joint device including, in combination, a socket member having a groove formed on an are greater than a half circle, an open segmental engaging member fitting movably in said groove, said segmcntal engaging member having some diameters less than the distance between. the terminals of the grooved member, and a shaft journaled within the opening of said segmental member and in the plane thereof.

2. A universal joint device including, in combination, a socket member having a groove formed on an are greater than a half circle and an opening in its slde, an open segmental engaging member fitting movably in said groove, said segmental engaging member having some diameters less than the distance between the terminals of the grooved member, and a shaft journaled within the opening of said segmental mem her and in the plane thereof, said shaft being adapted to be turned into the opening at the side of the socket member to permit the withdrawal of the segmental engaging member from the socket member.

HERBERT J. GRAHAM.

t'epies 01 this patent may be obtained to!" five cents each, by alienatin he "comment of intents, Washington, 0," 

